CLEARFIELD – “I stayed in bed all day and cried. I didn’t want to do anything or be around anyone. Everything got to me and I lost hope.”
That’s how Gertrude, an area senior citizen, described her recent struggle with depression. She said her emotional health began to deteriorate in February when she experienced setbacks in her physical health.
“First, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder. Then, I fell and broke my arm. A week later, I had to have intestinal surgery. It was a really hard time,” Gertrude said.
These health problems, coupled with ongoing financial difficulties, were too much to bear, she said. She was consumed by sadness.
Her husband and family did what they could to help, but were unable to lift her spirits. They thought she would have a better outlook once her physical health improved.
Months went by, and while she was healing physically, she wasn’t improving emotionally. If anything, she felt worse.
“I just couldn’t pull myself out of it. When you get that way, you just can’t help yourself,” Gertrude said.
In late July, Gertrude and her husband decided to share the details of her struggle with a home health nurse they knew. That nurse encouraged the couple to contact Bright Horizons Center for Emotional Wellness, a department of Clearfield Hospital.
Bright Horizons has an inpatient treatment program for patients ages 55 and older who are experiencing emotional health conditions such as severe depression, suicidal thoughts, extreme mood swings, excessive anxiety and behavioral health issues due to medication interactions, among others.
Lisa Woods, licensed social worker and intake and assessment coordinator for Bright Horizons, received Gertrude’s call and made arrangements for a home visit.
After meeting with the couple, Woods believed Gertrude would benefit from the Bright Horizons program.
“Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed. When older people visit their doctor, they talk about their physical problems, but not how they are feeling emotionally,” Woods said.
She added that older adults may be more susceptible to depression because they face life changes or medical problems that cause extreme sadness, thoughts of dying, confusion and excessive worry.
For Gertrude, symptoms of the disease included an ongoing feeling of hopelessness, a loss of interest in activities she once enjoyed and extreme fatigue.
Ms. Woods said other symptoms include feelings of worthlessness; difficulty concentrating and making decisions; insomnia or oversleeping; appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain; thoughts of death or suicide; restlessness; and irritability.
“We all feel sad at times. But when that sadness is so overwhelming that it lasts for weeks or negatively impacts one’s quality of life, it’s time to speak to a doctor. Depression is a medical illness. Those who suffer from it should know they are not alone. With professional help, they can live healthy, fulfilling lives,” Ms. Woods said.
During her stay at Clearfield Hospital, Gertrude worked with an experienced treatment team under the direction of psychiatrist Satish Amirneni, M.D.
An individualized treatment program that focused on group counseling and medication was developed for Gertrude. The Bright Horizons team asked her husband to be involved in the treatment process.
“Living with someone who is depressed is stressful for the entire family. They often feel helpless and have a hard time coping. We believe that involving the family is important for a successful recovery,” Woods explained.
Several days into her stay, Gertrude noticed an improvement in her outlook.
“I started to feel like myself again. I didn’t want to stay in bed all day anymore. Bright Horizons, my family and my faith in God helped me overcome depression. I am so grateful,” she said.
As part of her discharge plan, Dr. Amirneni recommended Gertrude continue group therapy through the Bright Horizons outpatient program located in the Samuel J. Waterworth Building on the Clearfield Hospital campus. Luisito Dingcong, M.D., is medical director of the outpatient clinic.
“Thanks to the staff at Bright Horizons, I have my wife back. I would recommend Bright Horizons and Clearfield Hospital to anyone. We’ve never had better care,” Gertrude’s husband said.
Referrals to Bright Horizons are accepted from anyone concerned about the welfare of an individual. All referrals are assessed by a behavioral health professional. Assessments are free and confidential.
For more information about the inpatient or outpatient behavioral health programs at Clearfield Hospital, contact Marsha Obremski, program director, at 768-2137.
